Global Memos

Leaders of twenty-three Western Hemisphere countries attended the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles on June 6–10, with a focus on “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future.” The summit sought cooperation on shared challenges, including economic recovery, climate change, health, and migration. The meeting showcased a divided region and is unlikely to produce any substantial outcomes, write four experts for the Council of Councils global perspectives series, but it has prompted some pragmatic first steps toward stronger regional partnerships.

Russia’s military assault on Ukraine defies international law and poses one of the most alarming challenges to European security in the post-Cold War era, with ripple effects far beyond the continent. In this Council of Councils global perspectives series, four experts analyze the implications for Russia, Europe, and the world.

Countries have made too little progress in 2021 against COVID-19. Combating COVID-19 and strengthening pandemic governance remain daunting challenges in 2022—made more difficult by diminished confidence in multilateralism, no consensus on pandemic governance reforms, and the global spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed global summits and undermined the ability of leaders to act on issues that imperil the safety, security, and well-being of every nation’s citizens. These ten summits will help determine if 2022 will be any different.

Leaders of more than one hundred countries took part in the U.S.-hosted Summit for Democracy in early December. The outcome was mixed at best, say four experts writing for the Council of Councils global perspectives series.

In this Council of Councils global perspectives series, five experts take stock of where the UN climate summit failed, areas of progress, and how much work remains to strengthen international efforts enough to limit global warming from reaching catastrophic levels.

The scale and audacity of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, spurred sweeping changes in the way the United States, its partners, and adversaries used the machinery of state and technology to respond to threats. In this Council of Councils global perspectives, five experts reflect on the legacy of the attacks and offer insights into the biggest changes in counterterrorism, human rights, surveillance, international law of war, and border security.

Transatlantic relations were boosted by nearly a week of summits marking U.S. President Joe Biden’s first diplomatic travels. But the months ahead will test the ability of alliances, great powers, and multilateral groups to advance global health, security, and economic opportunity, as well as whether the United States can lead the effort, say experts at leading global think tanks.

President Joe Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate marked a promising step forward. But even with renewed U.S. global leadership there are daunting challenges to locking in meaningful reductions to carbon emissions.

In this Council of Councils global perspectives roundup, members of five leading think tanks reflect on the impact of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The attacks left leaders and publics in many democracies stunned, reassured, or determined to play a bigger role in preserving democratic order in the world.